America’s Top 50 Bike-Friendly Cities

To determine our top 50 bike-friendly cities for 2012, we evaluated cities with populations of 95,000 or more, using data provided by the Alliance for Biking and Walking and the League of American Bicyclists, as well as input from local advocates and bike-ped coordinators. To make the list, a city must possess both a robust cycling infrastructure and a vibrant bike culture. Read on to find out how your city stacks up.

33. Kansas City, MO

33 / 50

Population: 459,787

Claims to Fame: A last-place bike-commuter ranking in the 2007 census led then-mayor Mark Funkhouser to drastically overhaul the city’s commitment to cyclists; today riders enjoy protected access on two bridges, and the iconic Cliff Drive scenic byway is car-free on weekends.

Biggest Challenge: Acquiring the final 12 miles of right-of-way to complete the Rock Island rail-trail link to the cross-state, 225-mile Katy Trail.